Occupational Employment Statistics

DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

17-3013 Mechanical Drafters

Occupational Description:
Prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, including dimensions, fastening methods, and other engineering information.

Occupational Employment Statistics(OES) Wage Data
First Quarter 2026

Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Percentiles
Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Mean	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
Southeast Minnesota	100	14	$34.19/hr	$24.92/hr	$29.87/hr	$33.10/hr	$37.30/hr	$45.10/hr

Leading Industries for Mechanical Drafters

Industry	OES Employment (Statewide)	OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Construction	40	$35.64/hr
Manufacturing	790	$36.19/hr
Trade, Transportation and Utilities	130	$26.17/hr
Professional and Business Services	270	$37.37/hr
Other Services	N/A	N/A

Other Regional Data for Mechanical Drafters

Geography	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change 2022-2032
Northeast Balance of State	N/A	N/A	N/A
Rochester MN MSA	N/A	N/A	N/A
Grand Forks ND-MN MSA	30	$37.14/hr	N/A
Fargo ND-MN MSA	40	$38.31/hr	N/A
La Crosse WI-MN MSA	40	$30.91/hr	N/A
Southwest Balance of State	50	$31.41/hr	N/A
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA	50	$33.24/hr	N/A
Duluth MN-WI MSA	60	$30.28/hr	N/A
Northeast Minnesota	60	$29.08/hr	-4.2%
Northwest Balance of State	60	$31.50/hr	N/A
Northwest Minnesota	70	$31.59/hr	0.8%
St Cloud MN MSA	70	$31.63/hr	N/A
Southwest Minnesota	80	$32.10/hr	-1.1%
Southeast Balance of State	80	$31.59/hr	N/A
Southeast Minnesota	100	$33.10/hr	-1.9%
Central Minnesota	190	$34.48/hr	-0.5%
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN	700	$37.51/hr	-4.9%
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA	830	$37.45/hr	N/A
Minnesota	1,220	$36.12/hr	-3.6%

Related Occupations

Occupations	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change 2022-2032
Electrical and Electronics Drafters	250	$38.22/hr	2.7%
Commercial and Industrial Designers	590	$46.64/hr	5.9%
Electrical Engineers	3,150	$54.12/hr	4.9%
Architectural and Civil Drafters	1,930	$34.93/hr	4.3%
Mechanical Engineers	5,890	$48.99/hr	13.7%
Architectural and Engineering Managers	4,580	$84.14/hr	7.5%

Task for Mechanical Drafters

Develop detailed design drawings and specifications for mechanical equipment, dies, tools, and controls, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment.
Produce three-dimensional models, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
Design scale or full-size blueprints of specialty items, such as furniture and automobile body or chassis components.
Draw freehand sketches of designs, trace finished drawings onto designated paper for the reproduction of blueprints, and reproduce working drawings on copy machines.
Compute mathematical formulas to develop and design detailed specifications for components or machinery, using computer-assisted equipment.
Position instructions and comments onto drawings.
Review and analyze specifications, sketches, drawings, ideas, and related data to assess factors affecting component designs and the procedures and instructions to be followed.
Modify and revise designs to correct operating deficiencies or to reduce production problems.
Compute mathematical formulas to develop and design detailed specifications for components or machinery, using computer-assisted equipment.
Lay out and draw schematic, orthographic, or angle views to depict functional relationships of components, assemblies, systems, and machines.